To anyone interested but especially Laurel,
I have been reading a book called New Zealand Shipwrecks 1795 - 1975. By
C.W.N Ingram
You might recall that Captain Francis Sinclair built one of the first boats
in New Zealand's history well the following I thought was quite interesting.
" Richmond, schooner: When entering Kawhia Harbour on the morning of June
30, 1845, the schooner was totally wrecked, and her complement of six,
including two passangers,drowned. Under charter to load a cargo for
Wellington, the Richmond left Taranaki with the cutter Ann and Sarah on June
26 for Kawhia. On the evening of the 29th, both vessels were in company off
Albatross Point, and at 9 a.m. the following day , the wind blowing strong
from the north-west, the cutter entered Kawhia harbour safely. At 11a.m. the
Richmond, in crossing the bar, was struck by heavy sea which threw her on
her beam ends, and she then turned keel upper-most. Shortly afterwards the
schooner went to pieces. It was believed she must have grounded on the north
spit and then capsized. Only one body was recovered, that of a seaman, which
was washed ashore, lashed to the main boom.
The Richmond, registered No. 3 of 1843, Port of Wellington, was a schooner
of 22 tons register, built at the Hutt River in 1842 by Captain Francis
Sinclair, and her dimensions were: length 41.5 ft., beam 12.5ft., depth
6.3ft. She was launched on August 11, Having been built on the site of the
proposed village of Richmond. The schooner was owned by William Mc Clatchie,
of Chatham Islands, whaler , and under the command of Captain Brown. "
Jenny
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